Increased demand has seen crabs rise in price as they become increasingly scarce in Vietnam’s rural areas.
Field crabs are becoming a luxury item in rural areas
Crab prices have risen to VND140,000 (USD6.7) per kilo in some rural areas.
Rice farmwoman Mien, from the northern province of Thai Binh said, “Due to higher prices, I can only afford to buy a tenth of a kilo, instead of half a kilo as in the past. Crab has become a luxury food, and beyond the reach of many normal people.”
She noted that the price had tripled against last year and is still on the rise. A week ago, she spent VND12,000 (USD0.58) on 100 grams of crabs, which were enough to make a small bowl of crab soup.
According to Mien, farmers could catch crabs by themselves in the past and it wasn’t rare for farming families to eat the tasty crustacean.
Mrs. Tuyet, a farmer in Hung Ha District’s Van Cam Commune, said, “The hot weather often sees people choosing to eat seafood. However, the increased use of pesticides has resulted in scarcities, driving up prices combined with rising demand.”
A crab merchant in the northern province of Hung Yen said she has to buy crabs from dealers from the central provinces of Thanh Hoa and Nghe An, where a large number of farmers earn a living by raising crabs.
In Hanoi, crab restaurants are thriving due to better living standards, with well-to-do people switching to countryside favourites, causing the price increase.
Farmers in the past could catch crabs themselves
